Local News

Tallgrass Energy pipeline approved

Construction to begin 3rd week of August

STERLING — A resolution and application submitted for a conditional use permit for the operation of a new 33 mile 20" crude oil pipeline was approved by the Logan County Commissioners during a business meeting on Tuesday.

Tallgrass Pony Express Pipeline (Colorado), Inc. submitted the 99-year application for the pipeline, which will be located within Logan County entering in Sec. 6, T7N, R55W at the SE corner of the intersection of Weld County Road 157 and Colo. 14 and proceeding easterly paralleling Highway 14 to C.R. 25.5 then proceeding southeasterly around the city of Sterling, crossing U.S. 6 near the intersection of C.R. 22, then across the South Platte River and Interstate 76, then proceeding in a northeasterly direction to a terminus with the Pony Express Pipeline and the Deep Rock Tank Facility in Sec. 23, T8N R51W of the 6th P.M.

Cody Wagoner, of Tallgrass Energy, told the commissioners 95 percent of the easement rights have been obtained along the pipeline route in Logan County. They expect to have the remaining easement rights obtained in the coming weeks.

Construction on the project is slated to begin during the third week of August, though Wagoner noted they're already starting to mobilize crews to prepare for construction. The construction will last approximately six months and will begin on the western end of the project in Weld County and move eastward.

"We attempted to identify areas of concern, both from a biological/environmental aspect, as well as land use and landowner concerns," Wagoner said. "We tried to time our operation as well with landowner uses - special irrigation, farming aspects - so we can minimize our disturbance."

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Commissioner Rocky Samber asked why those who haven't signed easement rights haven't done so. Wagoner said they're working with Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads for permits for easements on their land and there is also an area that the Division of Parks and Wildlife owns that they're working on acquiring the rights to.

"We do have a tract that is on the western edge of the county, up around Pawnee Pass area, that we have a number of undivided interest owners on and the ownership of the property was split up decades ago and many of those owners are unlocatable," Wagoner said. "So, we have to go through the court process in order to acquire those rights as required by law."

Samber asked if that court process is condemnation. Wagoner said it is, "since we're not able to locate them and can't talk to them in terms of an agreement, this is our only option is to go through this process."

Additionally, Samber asked if Weld County has granted them permits to start on that part of the project. Wagoner said they haven't yet, but Tallgrass is on the county's schedule to do that.

Commissioner Dave Donaldson asked if the pipeline will be pressure tested with pneumatic or hydraulic pressure testing. Eric Smith, project manager, said the pipeline will be hydra tested with water to a pressure of approximately 1,800 lbs. When the pipeline first starts operating it will initially have an operating pressure of 200 lbs.

Rob Quint, of the Planning and Zoning Department, noted the planning commission met last week and were in agreement with everything in the application. No conditions were added at that time, but Quint's department did include five conditions in the resolution.

Wagoner questioned two of the five conditions, including one regarding the minimum depth required for the pipeline to be buried at. The condition referenced the minimum depth required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other applicable regulations.

"Our pipeline project is not under the FERC jurisdiction; instead we're subject to the Department of Transportation requirements, so they are different requirements," he said.

Before approval, the condition was changed to state that "the pipeline will be buried at a minimum depth required by the U.S. Department of Transportation or other applicable federal, state or local regulations."

Wagoner also asked about the condition to provide a construction value audit when the project is completed. Prior to approving the resolution, the condition was restated to state "a construction value audit will be performed within 120 days of completion of the construction. When construction is completed the applicant will provide all construction costs to Logan County Planning and Zoning."

In other business, the commissioners approved an application to the Mutual of Omaha for group short and long term disability insurance, as well as a approved the transfer of a hotel and restaurant liquor license on behalf of L7BG, LLC for the premises at 17408 Highway 14 known as the Plainsman Grill.

During a work session following the business meeting, the commissioner met with Rick Bailey, of Viaero Wireless, about a request to use part of the fairgrounds for a wireless antenna location. The commissioners said they would talk with county attorney Alan Samber and Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Chance Wright before making a decision.

They also met with District Attorney Britney Lewton and Investigator Doug Copley, who gave an update on the DA's office.

During the discussion, Donaldson brought up a request the Probation Office made to the commissioners earlier this month for more space at the Justice Center, because they will be getting more probation officers next year. He asked if they could use some space in the DA's office. Lewton said they don't have any available space to give.

The commissioners plan to visit the center in the near future to see what can possibly be done to address space issues.